eBay data center will run on clean energy

Bloom Energy servers will provide 6 megawatts of power to the Utah facility.

eBay is taking its commitment to clean energy to a new level with the announcement that its data center in Utah will run entirely on clean energy. The company will only use the local electrical grid as an emergency backup power source. eBay has partnered with Bloom Energy to install a 6 megawatt fuel cell installation on site at the data center. When it is completed in mid-2013, it will be the largest non-utility fuel cell installation in the nation.

A total of 30 Bloom Energy servers, each capable of producing 1.75 million kWh of electricity annually, will be installed at the Utah data center. Each server can generate on-site power 24 hours a day and 365 days per year. The fuel cells will be powered by biogas created from organic waste.

“By being a trail blazer and deploying a brand new, revolutionary architecture to build its new data center, eBay is raising the standard for the entire industry. It is 21st century infrastructure for the industry needs of the 21st century,” said KR Sridhar, principal co-founder and CEO of Bloom Energy. “Bloom Energy is thrilled to be supporting eBay on this innovative and inspiring large scale project.” Source: eBay

Once completed, the Bloom Energy installation will be eBay’s fifth and largest renewable energy project. The company also operates a 650-kilowatt solar installation and a 500-kilowatt fuel cell installation at its San Jose headquarters site, a 100-kilowatt solar installation at a Denver data center and a 665-kilowatt rooftop solar array at a LEED certified data center in Utah.